IRONMAN World Championship

More than 2,000 athletes from 72 countries, 49 U.S. states and spanning six continents competed in this year’s IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 11, 2014. The annual triathlon comprises a 2.4-mile open water swim, 112 miles of cycling and a 26.2-mile run, long considered the most iconic endurance challenge on the planet.

Ironman Championship Triathlon

A cyclist is dwarfed by a large lava tube as he bicycles along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, north of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman World Championship is scheduled for Saturday. (AP Photo/Chris Stewart)

The 2014 field of athletes, which has grown from just 12 finishers in 1978, qualified for the World Championship by earning slots at IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events held worldwide, or won their shot at Kona through the IRONMAN Lottery and Legacy program.

In addition to returning world champions Frederik Van Lierde of Belgium and Mirinda Carfrae of Australia, the other competitors were as diverse a group that has ever competed in Kona. They included 84-year-old nun Sister Madonna Buder, the oldest person ever to finish an IRONMAN; NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts Chris Cassidy and Luca Parmitano; Italian F1 racing legend and Paralympic handcycle champion Alex Zanardi; Don Davey, a longtime NFL defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars; and Apolo Ohno, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in short track speedskating and Chocolate Milk brand ambassador. Athletes had to complete the race within 17 hours in order to be recognized as official IRONMAN finishers.

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, Paralympic handcycle champion Alex Zanardi leads a pack of racers during the 112-mi bike portion at the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, as the sun sets, Kaoru Suzuki, of Japan, runs the marathon during the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, pro athlete Michael Weiss, of Austria, zooms down the road during the 112-mi bike race of the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, Andy Potts swims the 2.4 mi race portion of the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy crosses the finish line at the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, Mirinda Carfrae, of Australia, wins the woman's 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Carfrae overcame the largest deficit in IRONMAN history, winning the race after closing a 14 and a half minute gap between second place finisher Daniela Ryf, of Switzerland. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, Sebastian Kienle, of Germany, reacts after winning the men's 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN - In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, pro athlete Leanda Cave, of Germany, zooms down the road during the 112-mi bike race of the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR IRONMAN- In this photo provided by the IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, the sun rises over Mauna at the start of the IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN )

Lead Image Caption: In this photo provided by the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro, Jan Frodeno, of Germany, swims at the start of the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for IRONMAN)

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